Gangway



July/29,194?. J. RBUTLR 2,424,876

l Filed May 25, 1946 J. R. Bumm' INVENTOR.

ArroRA/'Ev Patented July 29, 1947 U N I TED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE GANGWAY Johnnie R. Butler, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application May 25, 1946,Serial`No.672,17

Claims. l

rIhis invention relates to gangwaysrandhas particular reference to a temporary span-suchtas those used between platforms and box cars during loading and unloading operations.

An object of the invention is to provide a gangway of the referred to class which will not slip or fall while being used, and thus will prevent serious accidents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gangway which, in addition to the referred to safety feature, is both light and strong.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a spacing mechanism which will accommodate variations in the span between the loading platform and the box car door.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention positioned between a box-car door and a loading platform.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the gangway illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a lateral sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a broken side elevational View of the invention, and particularly showing the construction of the hereinafter described adjustable foot members.

The invention which is preferably made of metal, includes a pair of side members I which are substantially rectangular in shape and are in parallel relation with respect to each other. The side members I, in operation, are vertically disposed with reference to their widths so as to' support the maximum beam load for their given size. A gangway surface 2 is secured, such as by welding, to the inner sides of the side members I, and which surface is arcuate so as to additionally strengthen the assembly. The surface of the gangway 2 may be further strengthened by the provision of beams 3 received within the concave or under portion of the said surface, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Beneath the gangway surface 2 and near one end thereof, and also beneath the beams 3, there is an angular iron 4, disposed as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, which serves as a foot for bearing against either the sill of the box car door 5, or against the edge of a loading platform B.

The outer surface of the side members I support receiving tubes I Welded thereon, which tubes extend substantially from one end 0f the said members to substantially the centers of the said side members. Within the first named tubes-other tubes 8 are slidably received as particularly-'shown in Figure '4, and are provided with lateral and downwardly projecting feet 9, which feet bear against either the box car door sill 5 or the platform edge 6.

Equal spaced openings III are line drilled through the smaller tube, whereas corresponding but unevenly spaced openings I I are line drilled through the larger tube 'I so as to provide minute adjustment in the spacing of the foot 9 relative to the angular iron foot 4. Obviously, the holes in the outer tubes 'I may be equally spaced, and the holes in the inner tube unequally spaced, without departing from the spirit and intention of the invention.

When the gangway is positioned as shown in Figure 1, the angular iron foot 4 is positioned against either the box car door sill 5 or the loading platform edge 6, and the foot, 9 is extended to abut against the other of the supporting edges 5 or 6. When so placed, a pin I2 is positioned through the inner and outer holes I0 and II, respectively, which register with each other. Angular projections I3 are provided on the outer surfaces of the side members I so as to prevent the slidable tube 8 from falling from the larger tube 1 when the gangway is not in use.

What I claim is:

1. In a gangway, a gangway surface, rigid supporting members along each side of the said surface, a rigidly secured foot member beneath the said surface and at one end thereof, tubular members secured to the said supporting members, extensible foot members slidably secured within the rst said tubular members for telescoping adjustment therewith and at the opposite end of the gangway surface with respect to the said rigid foot member, and means securing the said extensible foot members in adjusted positions relative to the said rigid foot member.

2. In a gangway, a gangway surface, a rigidly secured foot member at one end thereof, tubular members secured along the sides of the sai'd gangway surface extensible tubular members slidably received within the rst said tubular members, feet secured to the ends of the said extensible members and at the end of the gangway surface opposite the said rigid foot member, and means securing the said extensible feet in adjusted positions relative to the said rigid foot member.

`3. In a gangway, an arcuate gangway surface, rigid supporting members along each side of the said surface, la rigidly secured foot member beneath the said surface and at one end thereof, tubular members secured to the said supporting members, extensible foot members slidably secured within the rst said tubular members and disposed at the end of the gangway surface opposite the said rigidly secured foot member, and

means securing the said extensible foot members in adjusted positions relative to the said rigid foot member.

4. In a gangway, an arcuate gangway surface, rigid supporting members along the sides of the said surface, a rigidly secured foot member at one end of the said surface, tubular members secured to the said supporting members, extensible tubular members slidably received within the first said tubular members slidably received Within the first said tubular members, feet secured to the ends of the said extensible member and disposed at the end of the gangway surface opposite the said rigidly secured foot member, and means securing the said feet in adjusted positions relative to the said rigid foot member.

5. In a gangway, a gangway surface, rigid supporting members along each side of the said surface, a. rigidly secured foot member at one end thereof, tubular members secured to the said supporting members, extensible tubular members slidably received Within the rst said tubular members, feet secured to the ends of the said extensible members at the end of the gangway surface opposite the said rigidly secured foot, openings Within .both the said tubular members, and removable pins within the said openings for securing the said feet vrelative to the rst named foot member.

JOHNNIE R. BUTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 460,196 Chase Sept. 29, 1891 1,178,661 Martin Apr. 1l, 1916 1,993,261 Colgate Mar. 5, 1935 2,329,855 VRydner Sept. 21, 1943 

